Flossing is an important part of your daily dental hygiene routine, but it’s also one of the most forgotten steps. Dentists recommend flossing at least once a day to keep food particles and bacteria from causing cavities or infection.
Not sure where to start with flossing? Here are a few flossing tips and tricks to help get you on track!
Hold the floss so it doesn’t slip
If you notice the floss is slipping while you clean between your teeth, switch up the way you hold it. First, be sure to pull a long enough strand of floss to give you enough slack to work with—18 inches is recommended. Wrap both ends around a finger on each hand to give you a better grip.
While flossing, bend the strand in a perpendicular motion to help reach the far areas at the back of the mouth.
Use clean sections of floss for each gap
It’s important to floss between every gap of your teeth, even the back molars. However, don’t use the same section of floss while working between the gaps. This can transfer bacteria and food particles from one gap to another!
As you floss, continually wrap and unwrap the strand to get a new section. If you run out of floss, simply rip off a new strand!
Floss each gap twice
If you only floss the gaps between your teeth once, you may miss food particles and build-up. That’s why it’s important to floss each gap twice, and use a clean strand each time!
Food and bacteria can get stuck on each side of your teeth, so it helps to floss from multiple angles.
Want to make sure you’re effectively flossing? Book your next appointment, and ask your dentist how you’re doing! Call us at (573) 243-5200 or stop by Jackson Dental’s office at 3100 E Jackson Blvd., Jackson, MO, to book your appointment.